GREEN D
Instrument for the measurement of individual and societal attitudes toward drugs.
Int J Addict. 1990 Feb; 25(2): 141-57
Due to the importance of the relation between attitudes and the experimentation with and use of drugs among adolescents, an instrument was developed composed of individual and societal attitudes toward drugs. A pilot study was carried out on the basis of which a questionnaire containing 63 items was constructed. This questionnaire was given to the research sample of 566 Israeli high school students aged 15-17. Three criteria were used to determine the final version of the instrument, which contains 55 items. Factor analysis revealed seven factors: curiosity and willingness to use drugs, social concern, individual freedom, attribution of positive characteristics to drugs, perceived harmfulness of drugs, perceived characteristics of drug users, and legalization of drugs. Reliability of the factors ranges from alpha = 0.64 to alpha = 0.88; reliability of the entire questionnaire is alpha = 0.89. A short version of the questionnaire consisting of 27 items (alpha = 0.80) was developed for special populations. These findings suggest that the Green Individual and Societal Attitudes Toward Drugs Questionnaire can be employed as a diagnostic tool to identify potential drug experimenters, and as a planning and evaluation measure to preventive drug educational programs.
MECHANICK, PHILIP,; ET AL
Nonmedical drug use among medical students.
Archives of General Psychiatry; 1973 Jul Vol. 29(1) 48-50
Mailed a questionnaire on illicit drug use to 1st-4th yr medical students in 1970 and 1972. 449 Ss (82%) responded in 1970 and 463 (79%) responded in 1972. Results reveal a large increase in the number of Ss who used cannabis between 1970 and 1972. Despite this greater occurrence of use, there was a marked decline in the current frequency of use among the 2 classes studied in both years, evidently due to loss of interest in taking the drug. Over the 2 years there was also a decrease in the number of Ss favoring legalization of marihuana. In both studies, relatively few Ss had ever taken LSD, mescaline, amphetamines, and barbiturates. Among Ss who had taken these drugs, interest also decreased by 1972. Findings suggest that cannabis use was prevalent in medical school irrespective of the age of the student but has now subsided.
SCHERER, SHAWN E
Hard and soft hallucinogenic drug users: Their drug taking patterns and objectives.
International Journal of the Addictions; 1973 Vol. 8(5) 755-766
Compared the hallucinogenic drug-use patterns and objectives of undergraduate hard (e.g., LSD or amphetamines) and soft (marihuana or hashish) drug users with nonusers. 43 male and 37 female 18-27 yr old undergraduates completed a questionnaire to classify them into non-, soft-, and hard-drug users: 36 Ss were classified as nonusers, 28 as soft-drug users, and 16 as hard users. 37.5% of the hard users had used drugs before entering college vs 4% of the soft users. 43% of the hard users reported using drugs because their friends did, vs only 21% of the soft users. Drug users rated themselves as experiencing more social pressure to use drugs than nonusers and were almost completely in favor of the legalization of marihuana and hashish. Hard users reported greater frequencies of cannabis use than soft users, who reported a wide frequency range in their reported cannabis use. Data on parental relationships, concurrent alcohol use, and perceived dangers of drugs are also presented.
WEIL, ANDREW T
Observations on consciousness alteration: Why coca leaf should be available as a recreational drug.
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs; 1977 Jan-Mar Vol 9(1) 75-78
Advocates legalization of coca leaf. Coca leaf contains many ingredients other than cocaine, and if masticated, produces a mild stimulant effect. In the Amazon-Andes region, where coca chewing is customary, there is no evidence of developing tolerance, withdrawal syndrome, or any physical deterioration caused by coca. Prohibition of coca in the US resulted in abuse of cocaine, particularly among the affluent section of society. By making coca leaf available, cocaine abuse will diminish, and coca will be accepted as a recreational substance like coffee.